Year 3.2: Grim Shadows by Jenn Bennett + Roaring Twenties Giveaway

It’s the roaring twenties in foggy San Francisco. Prohibition is on, inhibitions are low, and dark magic is rolling into town…

Archaeologist Lowe Magnusson is packing something everyone wants. The djed amulet, a priceless Egyptian artifact, will fetch Lowe a hefty paycheck from one of San Francisco’s wealthiest. But when the handsome Swede runs into his patron’s uptight daughter, what he once considered easy money becomes a maddening complication… Cursed with deadly spirits as her constant companions, curator Hadley Bacall must keep calm to hold her dangerous specters at bay and prevent them from lashing out at anything—or anyone. Trouble is, Lowe is driving her crazy, but her father needs the artifact he’s transporting. While Hadley can feel the amulet’s power, she can’t fathom the destruction—or the desire—it’s about to stir up.

The verdict is in and the previous reviews didn't lie, GRIM SHADOWS by Jenn Bennett is as roaring as the first one, Bitter Spirits, if not more. Egyptian curses, art forgers, magical creatures, amulets, a viking for a hero and a goth heiress as the heroine, could it get more exciting than this?! And yes, it's a Jenn Bennett kind of day here at, Talk Supe, and the party just got better because of it.

GRIM SHADOWS is filled with amazing paranormal goodness! These Magnusson brothers are so hot and I think I like Lowe even more than Winter, he's more precocious than his older, naughtier, funnier, a "bad boy" complete with a sick motorcycle, Lulu. Underneath this rough persona, Lowe is an academic, a certified Egyptologist, he can read hieroglyphs and knows his way around Egyptian myths and artifacts. Hadley Becall is just as interesting, I call her a goth heiress because she's always garbed in black like she's going to a funeral and her sharp black bob and haughty attitude isn't helping things either. Underneath the darkness and fur, Hadley is a woman beyond her time. Before lingerie became cool, Hadley already have quite the collection and she has a nice pair of buttocks to fill her fancy knickers. Lowe's gone wax poetic about it, even comparing it to basketballs which isn't exactly literary but funny just the same.

Lowe and Hadley are like night and day and I won't have it any other way. The tension was tight and palpable from the start and JBennett sure teased us with several heavy petting before the main event. The romance is perfect, realistic given the situation, slow burning even considering the amount of back and forth these two did before they took the plunge.

On to the paranormal side of things. Aside from jazz, booze and flappers, this era also had an extreme fascination with the occult and Egyptian artifacts. JBennett didn't make use of the usual myths about Osiris, Isis and the rest of their pantheon. She explored the not-so-popular lore to base her story on. It's very refreshing because one can get tired of reading the same thing told in different ways. Like her just concluded urban fantasy series, Arcadia Bell, the myth of GRIM SHADOWS is simplistic but rich. The conflict is complicated but was presented in a very concise manner while the resolution is action-packed, suspenseful and gripping. The climax of GRIM SHADOWS was well played, sequenced perfectly and wonderfully directed.

I love this series, I know it's been only two books but I have no complaints at this point. Not only can the books be read as stand-alone (although I still encourage you to read both because they're great reads), I also love the combination of not so popular myths with modernity. So far JBennett utilized Chinese and Egyptian myths, I wonder which pantheon is next. Hindi? Zoroaster? Celtic? No matter what it is, you can be sure that I'll be anxiously anticipating the next one because I know that it'll be another wonderful escape. JBennett's books are certified winners!

1920's isn't nicknamed Roaring Twenties for nothing. The decade was practically a multi-layered revolution if you ask me! So what better era to set a paranormal romance series right? Jenn Bennett tells us more.

Women and the Roaring Twenties

My Roaring Twenties books are sexy, standalone romances that take place in 1920s San Francisco. They feature members of a wealthy bootlegging family, the Magnussons, and each one has its own unique paranormal mystery—ghosts, cursed objects, and strange magic, oh my! All are chock-full of adventure, humor, and characters that charm each other’s pants off. What more could you want?

I’ve always been attracted to the 1920s, especially in America—Prohibition, flappers, and jazz. It’s a romantic period, bright with post-war prosperity and change. The beautiful clothes. The gorgeous cars. The beginning of Art Deco… What’s not to love, yes?

But for me, as a writer, the most interesting thing about this era is that it was a decade in which women broke social barriers and ventured into institutions that were previously regarded as Men Only. Women got their hair bobbed at the barbershop, smoked cigarettes, and sat at the bar alongside men. They moved to big cities to find work. Drove cars. Voted. They were pioneers, learning how to be independent.

I love pioneering women. They are exactly the kind of heroines I like to write. And the men who love them are my favorite kinds of heroes. Nothing is sexier than partners who are equally matched. And when you throw in a French bob and a perfectly tailored tuxedo? That’s the cat’s meow.

JENN BENNETT is the author of: the Roaring Twenties series (Berkley Sensation) and the Arcadia Bell UF series (Pocket Books). Her first YA contemporary romance, THE NIGHT OWLS, will debut in 2015 (Macmillan). She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two evil pugs.

This sounds like a great paranormal, and the era and plot have me intrigued! It is fantastic an author can step it up in the second book!Great guest post too.. nice to get that insight into why an author likes to write about different times.

I love this era too. It is so captivating with the women's movement and the carefree of it all before the Depression hit. I also like the focus on Spiritualism during this time. I enjoyed the first book and I cannot wait to dive into this one. So glad you loved it.

Me too! This series is fab for all the reasons you mentioned. Lowe and Hadley were great, the lesser known Egyptian mythos, treasure hunt, and 20's backdrop. Getting a little visit with the previous characters. I even liked Old Hollywood's appearance, the inclusion of the melting pot of emigrants and a child with disabilities like Lowe's friend's family. Leaves me eager for the next installment.

Great review/guest post! All of Bennett's reasons for being interested in the 1920s are reasons that I'm interested in this series. My grandmother-in-law lived in San Francisco in the '20s, and my FIL's stories about her are amazing. Seriously--on the nightstand. ANY day now ;)

Yes, yes, yes!!! This is another series I can't wait to get to, thanks to you, Braine! I love the idea of setting a PR in the 20's. It is such an interesting era, particularly in the US. You know you're making it hard for me to pick what to read next, right???? ;)